Cardboard storage file



March 19, 1957 D. L. FELTON CARDBOARD STORAGE FILE :5 Shets-Sheet 1Filed June 4, 1952 INVENTOR DONALD L. FELTON ATTORNEYS March 19, 1957 D.L. FELTVON 2,785,940

CARDBOARD STORAGE FILE Filed June 4, 1952 Y s Shets-Sheet 2 FIG.6.

INVENTOR DONALD L. .FELTON .90 86 A MMMOADM ATTORNEYS March 19, 1957 D.L. FELTON CARDBOARUSTORAGE FILE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 4, 1952INVENTOR ATT NEYS FIG. l3.

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a /I i United States Patent Oflice Patented Mar. 19, 1957 CARDBOARDSTORAGE FILE Donald L. Felton, Lincoln, Nebn, assignor to The Kay-?eekgompany, Lincoln, Nebn, a corporation of Neras Application June 4',1952, Serial No. 291,637

2 Claims. (Cl. 312-348) This invention appertains to improvements ininexpensive storage files of the sliding drawer type, which are used forthe storage of inactive records, and particularly relates to an improvedfile constructed from a bendable but sturdy material, such as corrugatedcardboard or fiberboard.

A primary object of this invention is to provide a file, including ajacket or shell and a sliding drawer, which is constructed in a simplemanner for transportation in a knocked down or collapsed manner forassembly within a minimum of time and effort and without the use of anytools or the possibility of any error in construction.

A further object of this invention is to provide a shell which is closed.at its rear end and open at its front end and has a lessercross-sectional area at the front end than at the rear end orintermediate portion and to provide a drawer that is slidably housed inthe shell and has a rear wall of a size slightly less than thecross-sectional area of the shell rearwardly of the front end andslightly greater than the cross-sectional area of the shell at the frontend, so that the rear wall of the drawer is arrested or stopped by thefront end of the shell and the drawer is prevented from being.completely withdrawn from the shell in the act of removing and insertingrecords or papers in the drawer.

A further object of this invention is to provide a drawer with the frontwall that is of a size complemental to the cross-sectional area at thefront end of the shell, so that the front wall fits snugly'within thefront endof the shell in a dust and light tight fit.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a concealedrigidifying strap or frame for the front end of the shell to reinforcethe front end and insure that the opening will always be of the samecross-sectional area whereby the drawer can be properly and easily movedthrough the front end.

A further object of this invention is to provide means for stacking anumber of files'in tiers, the means securing the files togethervertically and horizontally and in a manner so that the lower files willnot be damaged and so that the upper files will not tip up at the back,when the drawers in the upper files are being pulled out and pushed in.

Another object of this invention is to provide a simple and improvedblank for forming the drawer, the blank being of a material, such ascardboard or fiberboard, and being folded or bent upon itself in such amanner as to form opposing side walls and a front and rear wall, and toprovide means for reinforcing the front and rear walls of the drawer.

A further object of this invention is to provide a rigid frame for thefront wall of the drawer and to provide novel means for securing thecardboard or fiberboard sides and bottom wall of the drawer to the rigidreinforcing frame.

These and ancillary objects and structural features of merit areattained by this invention, a preferred embodiment of which is set forthin the following description and illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective of the improved file, illustrating anumber of such files secured together in a stacked or tieredarrangement;

Figure 2 is a view in perspective of the improved file, with the drawerin an out position;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the back Wall of one ofthe files and illustrating the manner of securing the back walls of alower and upper file together;

Figure 4 is a detailed sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a view in perspective of the pin that is used to secure thefilestogether, as shown in Figures 3 and4;

Figure 6 is a view in perspective of the blankfor formingthe drawer andillustrating the drawer in its initial stages of erection;

Figure 7 is a detailed perspective view of the front portion of thedrawer, without the rigidifyiug' member;

Figure 8 is a view in perspective of the front portion of the drawerwith the rigidifying member shown attached thereto;

Figure 9' is a perspective view of the front portion of the .rigidifyingmember;

Figure 10 isa cross-sectional view taken on line 10-10 of Figure 8 and.looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 11 is aperpsective view of the shell, with the flaps in afoldedout position and exposing the rigidifying frame or strap;

Figure 12 is a detailed sectional view taken on line 12-12 of Figure 2;

Figure 13' is av detailed sectional view taken on line 13-13 of Figure1;

Figure 14 is a perspective view of the rigidifying strap or frame forthe front end of the shell;

Figure. 15 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the file, withthe drawer in a fully closed position; and,

Figure 16 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 16-16 of Figure 15.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings and.initially to Figure 6 for a consideration of the drawer construction, itwill be noted that the blank 10 is longitudinally creased or scored asat 12 and 14 to divide the blank into a center section 16 and sidesections 18 and 20. The blank is further scored transversely bytransversely extending parallel score lines 22 and 24 to form thereinforced back wall. The blank is severed along severance lines 26 and28, which coincide with the score lines 12 and 14.

The center section 16 forms the long bottom wall 30, outer back wall 32and inner back wall 34. The inner back wall 34 is folded inwardly aboutthe score line 24 and 'the outer back wall. 32 is folded upwardly aboutthe score. line 22. The free edge 36 of the inner back wall 34 is formedwith projecting locking tongues 38, which are adapted to be insertedin.slots 40 that are formed transversely in the bottom wall 30 at thescore line 22. The severance lines 26 and 28 and score line 22 form ineach of the side sections 18 and 20 reinforcing flaps 42 and 44. Theflaps 42 and 44 are adapted to be folded inwardly about the score line22 and interposed between the outer back wall 32 and inner back wall 34to rigidity the back wall of the drawer. V-shaped marginal slots 46 areformed in the side sections 18 and 20 forwardly of the score line 22 andthe slots extend to a depth equal to one-half the'width of the sidesections. The outer portion 48 of the forward end portion of each of theside sections '18 and 20"isfolded over onto the inner section 50 to formthe double thickness or reinforced side walls 52 and 54. Thus, the sidewalls 52 and 54 are reinforced V by their double wall manner ofconstruction up to the slots or cut-outs 46. Rearwardly of the cut-outs46, the side walls have end portions 56 and 58 which are substantiallythe width of the flaps 42 and 44.

In erecting the drawer, the side sections 18 and 20 are folded upwardlyperpendicular to the center section 16 and the flaps 42 and 44 arefolded inwardly at right angles to the upstanding side sections. Theouter back wall 32 is then raised about the score line 22 perpendicularto the bottom wall and the inner back wall 34 is folded down over theupper edges of the flaps 42 and 44, with the tongues 38 being insertedinto the locking slots 40.

Prior to the formation of the reinforced back wall of the drawer, areinforced front wall 59 is positioned in place, as seen in Figure 6,and secured to the front ends of the side walls 52 and S4 and the bottomwall 30. For this purpose, as seen in Figure 7, the bottom wall 30 isprovided with an opening 60 and the side walls 52 and 54 are providedwith openings 62 and 64.

The front wall 59 consists of a rigid rectangular open frame 61, whichmay be formed from wood or other suitable material and a plate 65, whichmay be formed from Masonite, steel or other suitable material. The plateis formed at its lower end with a laterally extending flange 66 and atits upper edge with a laterally extending flange 68 that parallels andoverlies the flange 66 and terminates in a downwardly directed flange70. The opposing side edges of the plate are turned inwardly uponthemselves to form side channels 72 and 74 within which the lateralflanges 76 of sides strips 78 are adapted to be inserted, as seen inFigure 8. The side strips 78 are secured to the sides of the frame 61 bynails 80 or other suitable fastening elements and the flanges 76 areinserted within the channels 72 and 74. The flange 68 overlies the outersurface of the top of the frame, with the flange '70 resting on theinner surface thereof and the flange 66 seats on the end portion of thebottom wall 30 of the drawer and is positioned under the bottom of theframe 61.

Openings 82 and 84 are made in the side strips 78 and an opening 86 isformed in the bottom flange 66, the openings registering with theopenings 60, '62 and 64 in the bottom wall and sides 52 and 54 of thedrawer. Grommets 88 are mounted in the openings 60, 62 and 64. Openings90 and 92 are formed in the sides of the frame 61 in registry with theopenings 82 and 84 and an opening 94 is formed in the bottom of theframe 61 in registry with the opening 86 and the flange 66. Axiallysplit spring sleeves 96 are fixed in the openings 90, 92 and 94 andfrictionally receive the shanks 98 of headed pins 100. Thus, inattaching the sides 52 and 54 and the bottom 30 of the drawer to thefront wall 59, the frame 61 with the plate 65 attached thereto isinserted on the bottom wall 30 perpendicular thereto and with theopening 94 aligned with the opening 60 in the bottom wall. The sides 52and 54 are folded up about the crease lines 12 and 14 and the openings62 and 64 are brought into registry with the openings 82 and 84 and 90and 92. The spring sleeves 96, which have been previously inserted inthe openings 90, 92 and 94, receive the shanks 98 of the pins 100, thepins being inserted through the grommets 88 and securing the sides andthe bottom 30 to the front wall 59, as illustrated in Figure 10.

The tubular shell 102, which slidably houses the drawer, is formed fromcardboard or fiberboard and includes a body section 104 having opposingopen ends formed with flaps. As seen in Figures 3 and 4, the back wall106 of the shell is formed by folding the side flaps and top and bottomflaps 108 into closure relation and transverse to the longitudinal axisof the shell. A strip 110 of adhesive material overlies the adjoiningedges of form the closure back wall 106.

The open front end 114 of the shell is rigidified by an open frame orstrap 116, illustrated in Figure 14. The strap 116 includes a pair ofidentical inwardly facing U-shaped sections 118 and 120. The legs 122and 124 of the U-shaped sections are connected by a bar 126 that formsthe top of the frame or strap. The thin bar 126 is suitablysuper-imposed at its ends on the legs 122 and 124 and itis formed withupstanding circular bosses 128 and 130, which have sockets 132. The legs134 and 136 are connected by a thin bar 138 and the bar 138 is alsoformed with laterally projecting bosses 140 that have sockets 142 asshown in Figure 12. The sockets 132 and 142 extend through the bars 126and 138 to the legs of the U-shaped members 118 and 120.

The top wall 144 of each shell is formed with vertical openings 146adjacent the front end and spaced slightly from the marginal opposinglongitudinal marginal edges of the top wall. Similarly, the bottom wall148 of each shell is formed with vertical openings 150 which, when theshells are stacked in tiers, as seen in Figure 12, register with theopenings 146 in the top wall 144 of an underlying shell. The openingsare arranged, so that the bosses 128 and project through the openings146 in the top wall 144 of the shell and the bosses on the bottom 138 ofthe frame or strap 116 project through the opening in the bottom wall148 of the shell.

As seen in Figure 12, the bosses 128 and 130 on the top 126 of the frame116 and the bosses 140 on the bottom of the frame are of a heightslightly less than the thickness of the top and bottom walls 144 and 148of the shell, so that the free end of the bosses lies below the outersurface of the top and bottom walls of the shell.

.To arrange the shells in tiers or in stacked formation, as I seen inFigure 1, cylindrical pins or lugs 152 are used, the pins beingdetachably inserted in the sockets 132 in the upstanding bosses 128 and130 and projecting above the top wall 144 of an underlying shell, so asto seat in the sockets 142 of the bosses 140 on the bottom 138 of theframe 116 in the upper shell. In this fashion, four of the shells can betied or secured together, as illustrated in Figure 1, and the two upperfiles 154 and 156 are held together by a connecting strap 158,illustrated in detail in Figure 13. As seen in Figure 13, thecylindrical pins 152 are seated in the sockets in the bosses 128 and 130of the adjoining side-by-side shells and the strap 158 is formed withthe openings 160, adjacent each of its ends to receive the projecting orupstanding portions of the pins or lugs.

As illustrated in Figure ll, the strap or frame 116 is disposed at thefront end of the shell 102 and the bosses project through the openingsin the top wall 144 and in the bottom wall 148 to locate the strap orframe against movement axially of the shell and also to providevmeansfor receiving the pins or lugs 152 and thereby stacking the files in anarrangement, such as illustrated in Figure 1. To conceal the strap andfurther locate the strap against movement, flaps are formed on the sidesand top and bottom walls of the shell. The sides 112 are formed withhingedly connected flaps 162 and 164 and the top wall is formed with aflap 166. A flap 168, similar to the flap 166, is hingedly connected tothe bottom wall 148. The flaps 166 and 168 are folded inwardly over thetop and bottom portions of the frame 116 and interiorly of the shell sothat they are superposed on the top and bottom walls 144 and 148respectively of the shell. The flaps 162 and 164 are then foldedinwardly and superposed on the sides 112 of the shell and lock the flaps166 and 168 in place.

As illustratedin Figure 2, the reinforced back wall of the drawer is ofa size substantially less than the internal cross-sectional area of theshell rearwardly of the flaps 162, 164, 166 and 168. However, with theflaps folded in, the internal cross-sectional area of the front end isreduced or slightly less than that rearwardly of the front end, so thatthe free edge of the flap 166 forms a stop against which the reinforcedupper edge 24 (crease line) abuts. The drawer is thus arrested in itswithdrawal movement and prevented from being completely withdrawn fromthe shell.

As seen in Figure 15, the size of the front wall is similar to thecross-sectional area of the front end of the shell, defined by theinturned flaps, so that the front wall 59 fits snugly within the frontend and forms a light and dust tight fit. The plate 65 is formed at itslower edge with an overhang 170, which abuts against the front end ofthe bottom wall 148 and acts as a stop to limit the insertion of thedrawer into the shell.

To secure the rear ends of the files together, so that the upper files154 and 156 do not tip upwardly at their rear ends, when their drawersare being withdrawn, a connecting clip 172 is provided, as illustratedin Figures 35. The clip 172 is U-shaped and provided with opposing legs174 and 176 and a connecting web or head portion 178 that is offset fromthe legs 174 and 176. The clip is made of resilient material and thelegs are biased relative to each other by the head. The legs 174 and 176are inserted, as seen in Figures 3 and 4, transversely of thelongitudinal axis of the shell and back of the back walls 106 of theupper and lower shells. The legs are forced into the corners, puncturingthe corners and gaining entrance interiorly of the shells and the heador web 178 engages the marginal edges of the adjoining top and bottomwalls of the shells.

The plate 65 is formed with a transverse slot 180 to receive handles 182and with spaced vertical slots 183 and 184 to receive the ends of thecard or name plate.

The storage file is shipped in a completely knocked down, compact formand may be stored in such form, until it is needed for use. At suchtime, the tubular shell 102 is raised to its rectangular shape and theflaps 108 are brought together and secured by the strip of adhesivematerial to form the back wall 106. The rigidifying strap 116 isinserted within the front end and the flaps on the front end are foldedinwardly. The drawer is then erected in a manner aforedescribed and isinserted within the shell by tilting the back wall of the drawer withrespect to the front end of the shell, so that the upper edge 24 of theback wall of the drawer is inserted in the front end at an angle, untilit passes the flap on the top wall of the shell whereupon the drawer isaligned with the shell and slid into the shell.

The storage file may be used as a separate unit or a plurality of filesmay be secured together in stacks or tiers, as aforedescribed. Whensecured together, the storage files are held against horizontal orvertical movement and the drawers may be moved in and out, withoutcausing the shells to move apart or tip upwardly.

It can thus be seen that a compact and inexpensive storage file isprovided, which will store a number of records or papers in a dust andvermin free manner.

Although the best known embodiment of this invention has been describedand illustrated in detail, it is to be understood that other forms ofthe invention may be made, such as come within the purview of theappended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

l. A storage file comprising a shell having an open front end, and adrawer having a rear wall and a crosssectional dimension less than theinternal cross-sectional dimension of the shell and slidablypositionable in the shell through the open end thereof, the open frontend of the shell having a flap extending into the shell into the path offorward movement of the rear wall of the drawer, the open front end ofthe shell having a second flap extending into the shell into engagementwith the first flap to hold the first flap in the path of forwardmovement of the rear wall of the drawer so that the rear wall willengage said flap as it approaches the open front end of the shellwhereby further forward movement of the drawer will be arrested toprevent the drawer escaping through the open front end of the shell.

2. A storage file comprising a shell having an open front end, a rigidstrap of a form and dimension corresponding to the cross-sectional formand dimension of the front end of the shell and mounted therein, and adrawer having a rear wall and a cross-sectional dimension less than theinternal cross-sectional dimension of the shell and slidablypositionable in the shell through the open end thereof, the open frontend of said shell having a flap extending over said strap into the shelland having its free end disposed in the path of forward movement of therear wall of the drawer, the open front end of the shell having a secondflap extending into the shell into engagement with the first flap tohold the first flap in the path of forward movement of the rear wall ofthe drawer so that the rear wall will engage the free end of the flap asit approaches the open front end of the shell whereby further forwardmovement of the drawer will be arrested to prevent the drawer escapingthrough the open front end of the shell.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,745,518 Vance Feb. 4, 1930 1,900,338 Hanson Mar. 7, 1933 1,994,159Wurzburg Mar. 12, 1935 2,043,893 Hedges June 9, 1936 2,121,190 FellowesJune 21, 1938 2,125,813 Roscoe Aug. 2, 1938 2,128,341 Zalkind Aug. 30,1938 2,179,904 Strayer Nov. 14, 1939 2,236,557 Zalkind Apr. 1, 19412,268,236 Baird Dec. 30, 1941 2,337,079 Zalkind Dec. 21, 1943 2,339,312Zalkind Jan. 18, 1944 2,433,100 Derman Dec. 23, 1947 2,435,917 ZalkindFeb. 10, 1948 2,597,731 Hoy May 20, 1952 2,655,423 Strayer Oct. 13, 1953FOREIGN PATENTS 302,506 Great Britain Dec. 20, 1928

